Voting-machine.



A. McGARTHY. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2 M woes A. MCCARTHY.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.17,1910.

Patented Apn, 1911.

2 SHBET$--SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS r-srsns C0,, WASHINGTON, o. c.

Gil

ALLAN MCCARTHY, F PETERBORO, ONTARIQ, CANADA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed December 17, 1910. Serial No. 53?,838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN MCCARTHY, a subject of the King of England,residing at Peterboro, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion ofCanada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VotingMachines, of which. the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in voting machines, the object ofthe invention being to provide an improved machine of this characterwhich will stamp the voting card or ballot and register the operation sothat the exact number of voting cards or ballots which have been droppedinto the box can be readily observed, and at each operation a bell issounded all of which mechanism can only be released by the insertion ofa voting card or ballot.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which may belocated above any ordinary receptacle or box, into which the votingcards or ballots pass after being stamped and recorded.

A further object is to provide a voting machine with a movable plungeradapted to engage an endless inking ribbon so as to imprint a characteron the voting card or ballot, and provide improved means for imparting astep by step feed to the ribbon at each H operation of the machine.

lVith these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations and ar rangements of parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a view in section on the line11 of Fig. 2 with the top or cover in place. Fig. 2, is a top plan viewwith the cover removed. Fig. 3, is a view in section on the line 3- ofFig. 2, and Fig. 4c, is a view in section 011 the line H of Fig. 2.

1, represents the casing of my improved machine which is of generalrectangular form and provided with a removable top or cover 2 secured inplace in any approved manner. Inside of easing 1, longitudinal andtransverse frames 3 and 41 respectively are secured and spaced from thebottom of the casing sufliciently to allow for the movement of theendless inking ribbon 5, more fully hereinafter described. A bent plate6 is secured to one end of the casing l, and forms a passage 7 for thevoting cards or ballots, which latter are inserted through a slot 8 incover 2. The inking ribbon above referred to, projects through thispassage 7 and is supported upon pulleys 9. One of these pulleys 9constitutes a drive pulley and is secured upon a shaft 10, on which alever 11 is fulcrumed between its ends. A ratchet dog 12 is pivotallysupported on one end of this lever 11 and engages a ratchet wheel 13 onthe shaft 10, so that when tne lever 11 is moved on its fulcrum back andforth, ratchet dog 12 serves to turn the shaft and transmit a forwardfeeding movement to the ril bon 5. This lever 11 is connected by a link14.- with one end of a lever 15, the latter pivotally supported betweenits ends on a pin 16, the latter secured to a bracket 17 fixed to theframe The free end of this lever lies in the path of a finger 18 on adisk 19, said disk 19 secured on a transverse shaft 20, the lattersupported in the frame 4 and projected atone end through casing 1, whereit is provided with an operating crank arm 22.

The s raft 20 is held against rotary move ment by means of a catch lever23 fulcrumed between its ends on a pin 21, said pin secured to a bracket25 fixed to frame 3. This catch lever 23 is provided at one end with atooth 26 adapted to engage in a notch 27 in a cam 28, the latter securedto the shaft 20. The opposite end of this catch lever 23 projectsthrough a slot 2 1 in plate 6, and the ends of the lever lie across thepassage 7 and in the path of movement of a voting card or ballot forcedtherein, said card or ballot serving to move the catch lever 23 and release the cam 28.

A coiled spring 29 connects lever 23 with the frame 3, so as to normallyhold the lever in its locking position, and return it to such position.

30, represents a plunger having an impression end 31 adapted to beprojected through an opening 32 in plate 6 to engage the inking ribbon 5and force it against the card or ballot in the passage 7, when saidplunger is forced forwardly by means of a bow spring 33 secured to frame3 and hearing against a pin 31- iixed to the plunger. This pin, however,normally engages in a recess 35 in a cam 36, said cam fixed to the shaft20 and so shaped that when the shaft is turned, the pin will ride out ofthe recess, and at a proper point on the cam, the plunger will. bepermitted to move forward and stamp the card or ballot, a continuedmovement of the cam serving to draw back the plunger to normal position.As above stated, the plunger 30 is guided in frame 3, and its movementis limited by means of a slot 3'? in the plunger through which shaft 20projects.

38, represents a register which is observed through a transparentsection 39 oftop This register is operated by an arm 40 fixed to a disk41 secured on shaft 20. This arm to engages a member 42 of the registerat each turn of shaft 20, so. as to record the ballot or voting cardpassed? through the machine, it being understood that a. slot l3 isprovided in the bottom of casing l in line with passage I, so that thecards. or ballots may passinto a suitable receptacle.

represents a bell, the clapper 4:5 of which. is pivotally supported;between its ends on a. pin to, and the free end. lies in. the path. ofmovement of a crank pin l7 fixed: to a disk -sS, the latter secured toshaft 90, so that at each revolution of the shaft '20, the clapper willbe operated to sound the bell.

The operation is. as follows: The voter passes his card: or ballotthrough the slot 8 and forces it down the passage 7 until it strikescatch lever and swings thelatter so as torelease cam 28. He then turnsthe crank 2 one revolution, thus turning shaft 20 a. single revolution.Such movement of shaft 20, through the medium of cam 36 and springreleases the plunger 30 and forces the same forwardly to. press the tape5 against the card or ballotto imprint upon the same. This movement ofshaft 20 also advances the tape through the medium of finger 1S, leverto, link ll, lever 11, ratchet dog 12 and ratchet wheel This movement ofshaft 20 also records one on the register 38, through the medium of diskll and arm s This movement. of shaft. 20 also sounds. the bell throughthe medium of disk 8, rank pin 4;? and clapper l5, all of the partsbeing returned to their normal positions and locked by the catch lever'2?) ready for the-insertion of thenevt ballot. it being understood thatthe ballot or voting card before entered, drops down through a slot etllinto a receptacle below provided for the purpose.

Various slight changes might bemade in the general form and arrangementof parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I donot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfat liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage there- 1 adapted to imprint on a ballot in the through, of ashaft projecting through said casing, a crank arm on. the outer end ofsaid shaft, a plunger controlled by said shaft and ballot passage whensaid shaft is turned, and

' means normally locking said shaft against turning, said last-mentionedmeans released by the entrance of a. ballot in the passage,substantially as described.

2. In a voting machine. the combination. with a; casing haaiingv aballot passage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through said casing,a, crank arm on the outer en d of said shaft. an endless inking ril. bonin said casing, a plunger, :1, spring normally pressing saidi plungertoward said inking ribbon to imprint on the ballot in the passage, a camon said shaft normally lmldingsaid lever in its inwards position. and:locking means for said shaft, substantially as described.

In a voting machine, the combination with casing having a. ballotpassage time through, of a. shaft, projecting through said 1 casing, acrank arm. on. the outer end of said shaft, an endless inking ribbon in,said casing, a plunger, :1 spring normally pressing said plunger towardsaid inking ribbon. to imprint on the ballot in the passage, a cam onaid shaft normally holding said lever in itsinward, position, a cam onsaid shaft having a. notch therein, a catch lever pivoted lJGtTfQ 2 itsends and. engaging in said notch at one end, the other end: of saidlever located in the ballot passage and adapted to be engaged and: movedby a ballot, substantially as described.

4. In a. voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage there: through, of a shaft projecting through said casing, acrank arm on the outer end of said.

shaft, an endless inking ribbon in said casing, a plunger, a springnormally pressing said plunger toward said, inking ribbon to imprint onthe ballot in the passage, a cam on. said. shaft normally holding saidlever in its inward position, a cam on said shaft havinga notch therein,a catch lever pivoted between its ends and engaging in said notch at oneend, the other end of said lever located in. the ballot passage andadapted to be engaged. and. moved by a ballot, and means for moving saidribbon step. by step, substantially as described.

5. In avoting machine, thecombination with a casing having aballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through said casing, avcrank arm on the outer end of said shaft, an endless inkingribbonin saidcasing, a. plunger, a spring normally pressing said plungerv toward saidinking ribbon to imprint on theballot in the passage, a cam on saidshaft normally holding said lever in its inward position, acam on saidshaft havinga notch-therein, a catch lever pivoted between its ends andengaging in said notch at one end, the other end of said lever locatedin the ballot passage and adapted to be engaged and moved by a ballot, adrive pulley over which said ribbon is passed, a ratchet wheel securedto turn with the drive pulley, a lever, a ratchet dog on said leverengaging said ratchet wheel, and means for moving said lever whereby astep by step feed is imparted to the lever, substantially as dc scribed.

6. In a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through said casing, a crankarm on the outer end of said shaft, an endless inking ribbon in saidcasing, a plunger, a spring normally pressing said plunger toward saidinking ribbon to imprint on the ballot in the passage, a cam on saidshaft normally holding said lever in its inward position, a cam on saidshaft having a notch therein, a catch lever pivoted between its ends andengaging in said notch at one end, the other end of said lever locatedin the ballot passage and adapted to be engaged and moved by a ballot, adrive pulley over which said ribbon is passed, a ratchet wheel securedto turn with the drive pulley, a lever, a ratchet dog on said leverengaging said ratchet Wheel, a lever pivoted between its ends, a disk onsaid shaft, a finger on said disk engaging one end of the lastanentionedlever, and a link connecting the other end of said last-mentioned leverwith the lever carrying the ratchet dog, substantially as described.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through the casing, a crankarm 011 the outer end of said shaft outside of the casing, a plunger insaid casing constructed to imprint on a ballot in the passage, a cam onsaid shaft controlling the movement of said plunger, means con trolledby a ballot in the passage for locking said shaft against turning, aregister, and means on said shaft for operating the register,substantially as described.

8. I11 a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through the casing, a crankarm on the outer end of said shaft outside of the casing, a plunger insaid casing constructed to imprint on a ballot in the passage, a cam onsaid shaft controlling the movement of said plunger, means controlled bya ballot in the passage for locking said shaft against turning, a bell,a clapper for said bell, and means on the shaft for operating theclapper, substantially as described.

In a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through the casing, a crankarm on the outer end of said shaft outside of the casing, a plunger insaid casing constructed to imprint on a ballot in the passage, a cam onsaid shaft controlling the movement of said plunger, means controlled bya ballot in the passage for locking said shaft against turning, aregister, means on said shaft for operating the register, a bell, aclapper, and means on the shaft for operating the clapper, substantiallyas described.

10. In a voting machine, the combination with a casing having a ballotpassage therethrough, of a shaft projecting through the casing, a crankarm on the outer end of said shaft outside of the casing, a plunger insaid casing constructed to imprint on a ballot in the passage, a cam onsaid shaft controlling the movement of said plunger, means controlled bya ballot in the passage for locking said shaft against turning,aregister, means on said shaft for operating the register, a bell, aclapper, means on the shaft for operating the clapper, an inking ribbonlocated betwen the end of said plunger and a ballot in the passage, andmeans for imparting a step by step feed to said ribbon, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLAN MCCARTHY. lVitnesses BEN B. PANNET, RHoDA B. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

